Guest blogger: Richard

Night-before-my-first-day-of-med-school blog:

Not sure where to begin. Just read fifty pages about body parts and where they're positioned. Think I'm ready for lecture and lab tomorrow. We had a five days of orientation, and after the last session, our entire class (120 folks) voluntarily stayed to discuss what we want to be known for (or not known for as the case had been for the class above us). I thought this showed tremendous conscience for a group to decide to bond together and take the first step in stride. I would love to help lead this class toward a reputation of service, solidarity, and singleness of heart.

I am also getting involved with some like-minded individuals from the class who are passionate about public health policy and I'm very excited to think that we might be able to start effecting some change and infecting our fellow classmates with similar gusto. The timing of potential health reform is fueling the fire.

Finally, I'm enthusiastically continuing my work with the Developmental Brain Imaging Lab. I was checked off today to perform interviews of parents of kids with suspected ADHD. By examining these kids' brains with neuroimaging, we're hoping to start teasing them apart from regular kids, and aiding in the diagnostic process.

I hope to give updates at pivotal moments throughout this whole process. Hopefully my efforts these 3 aforementioned areas will prove to be fruitful. Thanks to my entire medstudentfamily for the love and support to make it happen!!